Model airplane launching anchor



Nov. 3, 1964 w. A. GARDELLA 3,154,883

MODEL AIRPLANE LAUNCHING ANCHOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 6, 1965 Wil/iam A. Garde/la l N VE N TO R BY ana/Www; me):

III l lig"A Nov. 3, 1964 w. A. GARDELLA 3,154,883

MODEL AIRPLANE LAUNCHING ANCHOR Filed May e, 1965 2 Smeets-sheet 2 Fig. 3

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Wil/iam A. Garde /la IN VEN TOR.

BY Ww 19mm United States Patent O 3,154,883 MGDEL ALANE LAUNCFJNG ANCHR William A. Gardella, 7423 Coolidge, Center Line, Mich. Filed May 6, 1%3, Ser. No. 278,289 3 Claims. (El. A`l678) The invention relates to a novel and useful model airplane launching anchor and more specilically to an apparatus including means for retaining a model airplane in a stationary position on the ground while the motor of the airplane is operating and during the time the person who is to y the airplane moves from the airplane, after starting the latter, to the center of the circle over Which the airplane is to be ilown. After the person who is to ily the airplane reaches the center of the circle and retrieves the handle of his U-control he is then ready to fly the airplane.

l1-control airplanes are tethered on the ends of a pair of control cables which are utilized for moving and are operatively connected to movable elevator controls of the model airplane. The model airplane launching anchor of the instant invention includes a barrier-type of retaining member which is latched in an upstanding operative position for retaining the airplane stationary when the motor of the airplane is operating. However, the launching anchor includes latch means for releasing the barrier-type of retainer in order that it may move to an inoperative position and this latch means includes an operator which may be engaged and operated by the movable elevator controls of the model airplane. Thus, after the person who is to ily the airplane has moved to the center of the circle and has picked up the handle for the U-control, he may actuate this control in a manner to operate the latch of the launching anchor thereby enabling the barrier-type of retainer to move to the inoperative position whereupon the model airplane, whose motor is operating, will then be free to move forward and take-olf under the control of the operator.

Without a model airplane launching anchor such as the anchor disclosed herein, it is necessary for the person ilying the model airplane to have a companion or a helper capable of manually holding the model airplane after its motor has been started and during the time the person who is to ily the airplane moves to the center of the circle and piclrs up the handle of the l1-control. Therefore, the launching anchor of the instant invention will eliminate the necessity of a helper and enable a model airplane enthusiast to fly his airplane without help from others.

lt is the main object or this invention to provide a model airplane launching anchor including means by which a model airplane whose motor is operating may be retained in a stationary position until such time as the person who is to ily the airplane can move to the center of the circle and manipulate the movable elevator controls of the model airplane by means of the ll-control handle.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding obiect, is to provide a model airplane launching anchor including means by which it may be readily adapted so as to be utilized in connection with various types of model airplanes.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a model airplane launching anchor including latch means for retaining upright barrier-type retaining means in the operative position'and including other than a rigid connection with the barrier-type retaining means thereby eliminating the possibility that vibration of thernodel airplane would accidentally release the launching anchor before the person who is to ily the airplane reaches the anlass Patented Nov. 3, 1964 "ice center of the circle and can grasp the handle of the U- control.

A final object to be speciiically enumerated herein is to provide a model airplane launching anchor which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FGURE 1 is a perspective view of the model airplane launching anchor shown in position for retaining the model airplane in a stationary position;

FIGURE 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevational view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 with parts of the airplane being broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 2;

FlGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FlGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal Vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FlGURE 3; and n FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View of a modified form of launching anchor, with parts of the launching anchor being broken away and shown in section.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral i6 generally designates the model airplane' launching anchor of the instant invention which is shown comprising a barrier-type retainer for a model airplane generally referred to by the reference numeral l2 and preventing forward movement of the model airplane 12.

The model airplane l2 is of a conventional type and is provided with a small internal combustion engine or motor 14 having a propeller lo mounted on its output shaft. The model airplane l2 includes a pair of movable elevator control surfaces lll to which a pair of control cables 2li are operatively connected at one end. The other ends of the control cables 20 have a U-control' handle 22 secured thereto and it is to be understood that the control cables Ztl also comprise a means `for tethering the model airplane l2 to the handle 22.

Conventionally, after the motor ldhas been started by rear portion of the airplane l2, an assistant will grasp the rear portion of the airplane l2y and perhaps one Wing tip thereof while the operator or" the airplane l2 moves to the center of the circle and picks up the control handle 22. After the operator of the airplane l2 is sure that the motor ld is operating correctly and the control cables 2li are operatively connected to the control surfaces 13, he will give a signal to his helper or assistant whereupon the latter will release the airplane l2 enabling the latter to move forwardly under its own power and to take-olf under the control of the operator.

The model airplane launching anchor l@ ofthe instant invention includes a base plate Z4 having a plurality of anchoring pins 2o secured therethrough and depending downwardly therefrom for engagement with the ground 2S whereby the base plate 24 will be maintained stationary on the ground 2li.

` A pair of elongated generally parallel retaining members kSil are secured to the Vbase plate 24 by means of a pair of leaf hinge assemblies 32. Each of the leaf hinge assemblies 32 is provided with a leaf 34 which is secured to the base plate 24 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners Se. In addition, each leaf hinge Vassembly is provided with a second leaf 3S which is secured to the corresponding retaining member 3i) in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 4b. The retaining members 39 are, by means of the hinge assemblies 32, pivotally secured at corresponding end portions to the base plate 24 for rotation about generally aligned axes that generally parallel the medial 'plane of the base plate 24 and extend transversely of the latter.

As can best be seen from FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawings the retaining members 30 are adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of the fuselage 42 of the airplane l2 and to engage the leading edges te of the stabilizer airfoil members 46 which project outwardly from opposite sides of the rear end of the fuselage 52. The stabilizer airfoii members 46 are provided with the movable control surfaces 18.

An operator bar 50 is pivotally secured to the base plate 24 at one end by means of a pivot fastener 52 secured through the operator bar 56 and the base plate 24. An anti-friction washer 54 is disposed between the confronting surfaces of the operator bar 556 and the base plate 24. In addition, an abutment member 56 is secured to the operator bar 5t) in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 58 and includes an upstanding abutment flange 60 for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully set forth. It will be noted that the free end of the operator bar Si) is mounted for movement toward and away from the axes of rotation of the retaining members 30 and that an arm assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 62 is provided. The arm assembly e2 includes a first elongated section 64 and a second elongated section 66. A second abutment member 68 is secured to the second section 66 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 70 and includes a retaining iiange 72 engageable with the flange 60.

The second section comprises a leaf of a hinge assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 73 whose one leaf 74 is iixedly secured to the base plate 24 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 7o. The other leaf 77 of the assembly 74 also comprises a first leaf of a second leaf hinge assembly '76. The second leaf '78 of the hinge assembly 76 is secured to the first section 64 of the arm 62 by means of suitable fasteners Sti and an abutment screw 82 is threadedly engaged through the end of the first section ed overlapping the second section 65 and includes a free end ortion Se engageable with the mid-portion of the second section 66 for limiting swinging movement of the first section 6d in one direction relative to the second section 66.

The free or forward end of the first section de overlies the one of said movable control surfaces 1S as can be seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and from a comparison of FIGURES 3 and 4 it may be seen that actuationpf this one movable control surface )i8 so as to incline the latter rearwardly and upwardly relative to the airplane f2 by means of the handle 22 will bring the upper surface of said one surface f8 into engagement with the undersurface of the forward end of the first section 64. Then, continued movement of the control surface i8 upwardly to the position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 2 of the drawings will swing the entire arm assembly e2 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 2 of the drawings moving the iiange 72 out of registry with the iiange ntl thereby enabling the operator bar 5d to swing from the position iilustrated in solid lines in FIGURE 3 of the drawings to the position illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and therefore the retaining members 3@ swing rom the upright positions illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings to the generally horizontally disposed positions illustrated in phantom Eines in FEGURE 3 of the drawings as they are connected to the mid-portion of the operator bar 5d by means of an elongated exible tension member Se whose opposite ends are secured and knotted through the retaining members 3% as at d3', the mid-portion of the tension member 86 being passed through the eye member 38 projecting upwardly from the mid-portion of the operator bar 5t). From FIGURES l and 3 of the drawings it may be seen that the base plate 24 has a slot 9h formed therein providing a handgrip portion 92 at the rear end of the base plate 24.

With attention now invited to FIGURE 7 of the drawings it may be seen that a modified form of launching anchor generally referred to by the reference numeral 96 may also be provided. The launching anchor 96 is substantially identical to the launching anchor lt) with the exception being that a slightly modified anchor bracket 98 is secured to the operator bar l0@ thereof and includes an upstanding flange 192 similar to flange 60. In addition, the arm generally referred to by the reference numeral N4 of the anchor 96 is not an articulated arm and is pivotally secured to the base plate 1626 by means of a hinge assembly 16S. However, the arm ifl is provided with an abutment screw 109 which is threadedly secured therethrough and corresponds to the screw 82. The abutment screw lili? is adapted for engagement with the fiange for?. in lieu of a flange corresponding to the flange 72. Thus, while the screw S2 may be utilized to adjust the effective positioning of the flange 72 carried by the arm 62, the screw NP9 comprises a substitute for the iiange 72 and may therefore be utilized to adjust the point of swinging movement of the arm 164 relative to the base plate 196 at which the arm ith@ will be released from engagementiwith the operator bar 19t?.

As can be seen from FIGURE 3 of the drawings the axis of rotation of the arm 62 is slightly inclined relative to a transverse plane disposed normal to the longitudinal axis of the base plate 24. The resultant anguiar positioning of the arm 52 assures proper releasing of the arm 62 by the elevator control surface 18 in the event the airplane 12 is shifted to the left as viewed from behind due to the direction of pull from the control cables 2).

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A model airplane launching anchor comprising a base plate, a pair of elongated generally parallel retaining members pivotally secured at corresponding end portions to said plate for rotation about generally aligned axes generaliy paralleling the medial plane of said base plate and swinging movement between lowered inoperative posi- Y tions closely overlying said base plate and upstandingV operative positions adapted to receive the fuselage of a model airplane therebetween with said retaining members engaging the leading edges of a pair of airfoil members projecting outwardly of opposite sides of said fuselage, an operator mounted on said base plate for movement between first and second positions, means operatively connecting said operator and said retaining members for movement of said retaining members between said operative and inoperative positions in response to movement of said operator between said first and second positions respectively, movable and releasable latch means supported from said base plate operable to retain said operator in said first position and therefore said retaining members against movement from said operative positions to said inoperative positions, said releasable latch means y leasing said operator and thereby said retaining members for movement toward their inoperative positions.

2. A model airplane launching anchor comprising a base plate, elongated retaining means pivotally secured at one end to said plate for movement about an axis generally paralleling the medial plane of said plate and extending transversely of the longitudinal extent of said retaining means and movement between a lowered inoperative position generally paralleling said plate and an upstanding operative position adapted to engage the leading edges of a pair of airfoil members projecting outwardly of opposite sides of the fuselage of said airplane, an operator mounted on said base independently of said retaining means and for movement between first and second positions, means operatively connecting said operator and retaining means for movement of said retaining means between said operative and inoperative positions in response to movement of said operator between said rst and second positions respectively, movable and releasable latch means supported from said base plate and operable to retain said operator in said iirst position and therefore said retaining means against movement from said operative position, said release-.ble latch means including means adapted to be engaged and moved by a movable control surface of said airplane to a position releasing said operator and thereby said retaining means for movement toward its inoperative position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said operator comprises a member including a portion movable toward and away from said axis, said means operatively connecting said operator member and said retaining means comprising elongated tension means secured between said portion of said operator member and a free swinging portion of said retaining means.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said elongated tension means is flexible.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said operator comprises a member including a portion movable toward and away from said axis and in a plane generally paralleling the medial plane of said base plate, said means operatively connecting said operator member and said retaining means comprising elongated tension means secured between said portion of said operator member and a free swinging portion of said retaining means.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said releasable latch means comprises an elongated arm pivotaliy secured means carried by a rst free swinging portion of said arm and said portion of said operator member engageable with each other in one position of swinging movement of said arm to prevent movement of said operator member toward the iirst mentioned axis and releasable with each other upon movement of said arm from said one position, a second free swinging portion of said arm comprising said means adapted to be engaged by said movable control surface of said airplane for moving said arm 'om said one position and releasing said operator member.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein one of said coacting means includes adjustable means engageable with the other of said coacting means and for adjusting the point of swinging movement of said arm relative to said base at which said arm will be released from engagement with said operator member.

8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said operator comprises a member including a portion movable toward and away from said axis and in a plane generally paralleling the medial plane of said base plate, said means operatively connecting said operator member and said retaining means comprising elongated tension means secured between said portion of said operator member and a ree swinging portion of said retaining means, said releasable latch means comprising an elongated arm pivotally secured at one end to said `base plate for rotation about an axis generally paralleling the rst ymentioned axis, coacting means car ied by a first free swinging portion of said arm and said portion of said operator member engageable with each other in one position of swinging movement of said arm to prevent movement or" said operator member toward the first mentioned axis and releasable with each other upon movement oi said arm from said one position, a second free swinging portion of said arm comprising said means adapted to be engaged by said movable control surface of said airplane for movingsaid arm from said one position and releasing said operator member, said arm member including adjustable means operable for Varyingv the point of swinging movement of said arm relative to said base at which said arm will be released from engagement with said operator member.

Milrolajczyk Mar. 7, 1950 Figgins et al Oct. 25, 1960 

2. A MODEL AIRPLANE LAUNCHING ANCHOR COMPRISING A BASE PLATE, ELONGATED RETAINING MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURED AT ONE END TO SAID PLATE FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS GENERALLY PARALLELING THE MEDIAL PLANE OF SAID PLATE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE LONGITUDINAL EXTENT OF SAID RETAINING MEANS AND MOVEMENT BETWEEN A LOWERED INOPERATIVE POSITION GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID PLATE AND AN UPSTANDING OPERATIVE POSITION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE LEADING EDGES OF A PAIR OF AIRFOIL MEMBERS PROJECTING OUTWARDLY OF OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FUSELAGE OF SAID AIRPLANE, AN OPERATOR MOUNTED ON SAID BASE INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID RETAINING MEANS AND FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID OPERATOR AND RETAINING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT OF SAID RETAINING MEANS BETWEEN SAID OPERATIVE AND INOPERATIVE POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATOR BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY, MOVABLE AND RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS SUPPORTED FROM SAID BASE PLATE AND OPERABLE TO RETAIN SAID OPERATOR IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND THEREFORE SAID RETAINING MEANS AGAINST MOVEMENT FROM SAID OPERATIVE POSITION, SAID RELEASABLE LATCH MEANS INCLUDING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED AND MOVED BY A MOVABLE CONTROL SURFACE OF SAID AIRPLANE TO A POSITION RELEASING SAID OPERATOR AND THEREBY SAID RETAINING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD ITS INOPERATIVE POSITION. 